Scott County Central girls unable to pull off upset of Naylor

~ Naylor defeated the Bravettes 44-33 in a Class 1 sectional

BLOOMFIELD, Mo.-- The Scott County Central Bravettes knew it would take their best game of the year to pull off the upset against Naylor in the Class 1 sectional on Thursday after sustaining a 19-point loss to the Eagles earlier in the season.

For two quarters, the Bravettes gave the Eagles all they wanted and more, but a rough second half propelled Naylor to a 44-33 victory and a fifth straight quarterfinal appearance.

"We knew we had to bring our 'A' game to compete with them," SCC coach Matt Limbaugh said. "I thought the first half we really came out and were aggressive, attacked the rim and got shots we needed. In the second half, we just couldn't get that big shot to fall.

"That's basketball. We lost our aggression and we stopped attacking. Naylor's defense got a little bit more suffocating."

Thursday sectional was a rematch of last year's contest in which Naylor ended SCC's season 65-51. Many of the girls on that SCC squad were back this season for another shot at the Eagles.

SCC led by three points in the second quarter before settling for a 26-26 tie at halftime.

The teams still were deadlocked midway through the third quarter, but a steal and a layup from Naylor senior Darby Pruett shifted the momentum toward the Eagles with 3 minutes, 37 seconds left in the period.

Pruett's basket ignited a string of three straight buckets by the Eagles, capped by a Lauren Rich 3-pointer. The 7-0 run was Naylor's best of the night and put it ahead 36-29 with 2:14 left in the third.

"At halftime we went in and talked about having to get after it or we're going to let this slip through our fingers," Naylor coach Gene Deckard said. "We came out and I think we played just a little harder and with a little more intensity. We got a few turnovers and fortunately opened up a little lead and got it done."

Naylor maintained its seven-point edge heading into the fourth, where a string of empty possessions by SCC allowed the Eagles to go on a 6-0 run.

SCC freshman Madison Avance scored a basket with 4:46 remaining in the contest to end a five-minute scoring drought to pull her team within 11 points at 44-33.

Naylor went into a clock killing mode with just over four minutes to play.

With the ball in speedster Brooklyn Urich hands, the Eagles went on to burn much of the final four minutes off the clock as the Bravettes struggled to foul.

In the few times they got the ball back on a turnover or a missed free throw, SCC came up empty handed on the other end of the court. In all the two team played a scoreless final 4 minutes, 45 seconds to allow Naylor to hold for the win.

Pruett led Naylor (15-9) with 14 points. Shayna Tharp and Charity McCoy scored 10 and nine points respectively.

In her final game as a Bravette, senior Mikaela Blissett scored a game-high 16 points. Avance was second on the squad with nine points.

"We needed to be aggressive and want our girls to want to take the shots," Limbaugh said. "We need them to get to the lane as much a possible. At first we came out with enough intensity to win this game, and we just couldn't quite get it for four quarters."

With the loss came an end to the career of a group of seniors that returned the Bravettes program back to prominence. After struggling to field a varsity squad just three years ago, SCC has won two straight district titles and back-to-back Scott-Mississippi Conference championships.

SCC finished the season at 16-10 and went a combined 36-17 over the past two years.

The senior group includes Blissett, Johniqua Fort, Abby Ross and Derien Ditto.

"I'm extremely proud of these girls," Limbaugh said. "These four seniors have turned the program around here at Scott Central. Girls basketball is respected again, and these four seniors are a big part of it."

SCC 11 15 5 2 -- 33

Naylor 11 15 12 6 -- 44

SCOTT CENTRAL CENTRAL (33) -- Mikaela Blissett 16, Johniqua Fort 5, Abby Ross 3, Maddison Avance 9. FG 12, FT 8-14, F 13. (3-pointers: Ross 1. Fouled out: Blissett, Ditto.)

NAYLOR (44) -- Madison Gargac 5, Shayna Tharp 10, Lauren Rich 6, Darby Pruett 14, Charity McCoy 9. FG 17, FT 6-10, F 10. (3-pointers: Tharp 2, Rich 2. Fouled out: none.)